Decoration Day

noun

: memorial day

Examples of Decoration Day in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But like the ShoalFest performance, the addition of Isbell is perhaps the most obvious difference between Decoration Day and the band’s three previous albums. — Jim Beaugez, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026 In 1875 a cemetery, where today an annual Decoration Day commemoration (the original name for Memorial Day) is held on the first Sunday of May, was established. — Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026 Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day, took place on May 30 that year. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 26 May 2026 By the end of the 19th century, Decoration Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. — Daily News, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for Decoration Day

Word History

Etymology

from the custom of decorating graves on this day

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Decoration Day was in 1871

Rhymes for Decoration Day

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Browse Nearby Words

decoration
Decoration Day
decorative
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Cite this Entry

“Decoration Day.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Decoration%20Day. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Decoration Day

noun
: memorial day

More from Merriam-Webster on Decoration Day

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Decoration Day

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